Quick shift rooter



y 1942- D. FLETCHER 2,281,928

QUICK SHIFT ROOTER Filed Jan. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HHHH I 'INVENTOR.

ATUTORNEYS.

j mrzzaew Ma s, 1942.

D. FLETCHER 2,281,928

QUICK SHIFT ROOTER Filed 'Jan. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 2m FZeZckew IN VENT 0R.

ATTORNEYS 3 7 Patented May 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE QUICK SIHFT RQOTER Dean Fletcher, Wildomar, Calif.

Application January 9, 1940, Serial No. 313,110

6 Claims.

There is a known machine of the push-scraper type, known as a bulldozer, embodying a mouldboard disposed transversely of the line of advance, the bulldozer forming the forward part of a motor-propelled vehicle, or being assembled therewith.

In tearing up hard ground, oiled roads and the like, a mouldboard is not sufiicient. This invention aims to supply a novel form of rooter or digger, extended below the mouldboard of a bulldozer, road-maintainer or grader, the rooter or digger being of novel form, and novel means being supplied for assembling it with the mouldboard.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows, in front elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention, assembled with a mouldboard of a machine of the general sort hereinbefore alluded to;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cation;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing another modification;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing a further modification Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section showing still another modification Fig. 8 is a vertical section illustrating another modification;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating a further modification;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing another modification.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral l marks the framework of a push-scraper, or bulldozer or analogous implement, to which is secured a rearwardly concaved mouldboard 2, which is provided at its upperedge with a rearwardly-extended flange 3. I

The device forming the subject matter of this vertical section showing a modifiapplication is made of metal throughout. It embodies parallel uprights 4, which are rigid bars, rearwardly curved, to conform to the forward concavity of the mouldboard 2. The uprights 4 are connected by an upper cross piece 5 and a lower cross piece 6, disposed in parallel relation and at right angles to the uprights 4. The ends of the cross pieces 5 and 6 maybe connected to the uprights 4 by welding or otherwise. The lower cross piece 6 is located at the lower edge of the mouldboard 2, and the upper cross piece 5 is located nearer the flange 3 of the mouldboard 2 than to the lower edge of the mouldboard. The uprights 4 are provided at their upper ends with 'backwardly extended hooks I which rest on the flange 3, the bills of the hooks I extending under the flange 3, and the bills being beveled, as indicated at 8, to facilitate the assembly of the device with the mouldboard 2 and its flange 3.

The uprights 4 extend any desired distance below the lower edge of the mouldboard 2, and they terminate inreduced lugs 9, whereon detachable and renewable soil-engaging points to are mounted.

As to general operation, when the vehicle is advanced, the lower parts of the uprights 4 and the points l0, extending below the lower edge of the mouldboard 2, will function to rip up plowed ground, a roadway or the like.

The rooter is assembled with the mouldboard 2 by lifting up the device, engaging the hook I with the flange 3 and permitting the device to swing downward to place against the forward surface of the mouldboard 2, as shown in Fig. 2.

Specifically stated, the rooter is of ladder-like form, and comprises horizontally spaced uprights 4, and vertically spaced, substantially horizontal connectors joining the uprights, the connectors being of such width and thickness that they can be grasped in the human hand and serve' as grips during the assembly of the rooter with a mouldboard and during the detachment of the rooter therefrom, two of the connectors being located close enough together, and being so disposed with respect to opposite ends of the rooter, as to distribute the weight of the rooter with substantial equality when it is handled by means of the connectors.

Recalling the severe duty that the rooter is required to perform, it is needless to point out that it must be of considerable weight and not easy to handle unless constructed specifically with that end in view. In the placing of the I rooter onthe mouldboard 2, the cross pieces 5 and 6 constitute handles whereby the article can be lifted and manipulated conveniently. The parts and 6 form connections of great strength, holding the uprights 4 in parallel relation. The net result is a structure of adequate strength and necessarily somewhat heavy, but capable, nevertheless, of being handled advantageously.

In Fig. 3, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the sufiix a. The flange 3a of the mouldboard 2a is thicker than the corresponding flange 3 of Fig. 2. Each upright 4a comprises a lower part II and an upper part i2, connected by a hinge l4, the axis of which is parallel to the mouldboard 2a, horizontally considered. The upper member I2 of each upright 4a has a backwardly extended, rectangularly disposed arm l5, fitting on top of the flange 3a but not hooked underneath it. Securing elements. i6, suchas bolts, pass through the upper member [2 of each upright 4a, and through the flange 3a. Owing to the provision of the hinge I4, the lower part II of the upright 4a will find abutment against the mouldboard 2a. Furthermore, because the hinge i4 is provided, the vehicle can be set aback readily, the lower portion I [of the rooter swing been designated by numerals already used, with the sufix d. Ears 22d are secured to the top of the mouldboard 2d and are connected by a pin 3|. The arm [5d of each upright 4d is provided in its top with a notch 32 adapted to receive the pin 3|.

In Fig. 8, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the suflix e. A U-shaped bracket 33 is secured to the forward surface of the mouldboard 26, by any desired number of bolts 36, and has forwardly presented ears 34, connected by a pin 35, The upper part of each upright 4e has a 1 horizontal notch 31, adapted to receive the pin InFig, 9, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with extended lug [8 that passes through a hole I9 in the mouldboard 2b, the lug being provided with a vertical opening 20, into which may be inserted a wedge key 2 I, engaging the rear surface of the mouldboard 2b, to aid in holding the rooter V The rooter is disposed in asubstantially-hori zontal, forwardly-extended position. ,This lines up the extension 26 with the extension 24. The

numeral 21 marks a connector or pin, having a radial arm or handle 28. The pin- 21 is thrust through thealined openings 25 of the uprights 4c, and through the corresponding openings 23 of the ears or supports 22, the pin 2'! having an outstanding radial projection 29 that passes inwardly through the alined extensions 24 and 26.

The handle 28 is swung down against the mouldboard 2c and the projection 29 is so disposed that the pin 21 cannot escape while the slot extensions 24 and 26 are still in line. The rooter then is swung down to place against the mouldboard 2. This disposes the extensions 24 and 26 out of line, as shown in Fig. 5. p The projection 29 is inside one upright 40,. as shown in Fig.6, the head 28 of the pin engages the corresponding ear 22, and the pin 21 cannot escape lengthwise. v

In Fig. 7, parts hereinbefore described have the suflix f. This form of the invention is very much like the one depicted in Fig. 8, aside from the'fact that the notches 31 of Fig. 8 are replaced by openings 31f, through which the pin 35 passes.

In Fig. 10, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the suffix y. The projection or lug 29 of Fig. 6, and associated parts, are dispensed with, the pin 219 being held in place by a cotter pin 30.

In any of its forms, the device will be found thoroughly advantageous for the ends in view and hereinbefore set forth.

In all forms of the invention except inFig. 4, there is embodied a mouldboard, a rooter cooperating with the forward surface of the mouldboard and comprising a soil-engaging portion extended below the mouldboard, and means for assembling the rooter with the mouldboard to permit the soil-engaging portion of the rooter to swing forwardly when the mouldboard is moved backwardly.

Having thus described the claimed is: r

1. A rooter for attachment to the mouldboard of a scraper, the rooter being of ladder-like form and comprising horizontally spaced uprights and vertically spaced, substantially horizontal connectors joining the uprights, the connectors being of such width and thickness that they can be grasped in the human hand and serve as grips during the assembly of the rooter with a mouldboard and during the detachment of the rotor therefrom, two of the connectors being invention, what is located close enough together, and being so disposed with respect to opposite ends of the rooter, as to distribute the Weight of the rooter with substantial equality when it is handled by means of the connectors, and means assembled with the upper portions of the uprights for positioning the rooter on a mould-board.

2. A rooter for attachment to the mouldboard of a scraper, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the last-specified means comprises a backwardly extended arm on the upper portion of each upright, and a securing device passing through each upright and engageable with a mouldboard in the arm.

3. rooter for attachment to the mouldboard of a scraper, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein each upright comprises hingedly connected upper and lower'parts, permitting the lower parts to swing forwardly when the scraper is set aback.

4. In a device of the class described, a mouldboard carrying projecting ears, a pin mounted in the ears. and a-rooter resting against "the close vicinity of the forward surface of the mouldboard and extended between the ears, the rooter having an opening receiving the pin, the rooter being of ladder-like form and comprising horizontally spaced uprights and vertically spaced, substantially horizontal connectors joining the uprights, the connectors being of such width and thickness that they can be grasped in the human hand and serve as grips during the assembly of the rooter with a mouldboard and during the detachment of the rooter therefrom, two-of the connectors being located close enough together, and being so disposed with respect to opposite ends of the rooter, as to distribute the weight of the rooter with substantial equality when it is handled by means of the connectors.

5. In a device of the class described, a mouldboard carrying projecting ears, a pin mounted in the ears and a rooter resting against the forward surface of the mouldboard and extended between the ears, the rooter having an upwardly opening notch receiving the pin, the rooter being of ladder-like form and comprising horizontally spaced uprights and vertically spaced, substantially horizontal connectors joining the uprights, the connectors being of such width and thickness that they can be grasped in the human hand and serve as grips duringthe assembly of the rooter with a mouldboard and during the detachment of the rooter therefrom, two of the connectors being located close enough together, and being so disposed with respect to opposite ends of the rooter, as to distribute the weight of the rooter with substantial equality when it is handled by means of the connectors.

6. A rooter constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein the last-specified means is a backwardly extended hook at the upper end of each upright, for engagement with the backwardly extended flange of a mouldboard, the space within the bill of the hook widening as it extends forwardly, whereby the rooter can swing forwardly with respect to a mouldboard when the mouldboard moves backwardly.

DEAN FLETCHER. 

